Berkshire jobs: Newbury Racecourse development nearing approval

A multi-million pound development at Newbury Racecourse which will create a great number of Berkshire jobs could be nearing council approval.

Although there are still major traffic issues to be sorted, the self-financed project has come a long way in the last year.

Sarah Hordern, director of property development and finance at Newbury Racecourse told Newbury Today: “Newbury has always had traffic issues and we are working very closely with West Berkshire Council and highway officers to produce a solution to some of these existing issues as part of our outline planning application to redevelop the racecourse.

“The recent work on the Robin Hood roundabout as part of the Parkway redevelopment has shown that significant improvements can be made.”

Newbury Town Council can’t make any final views before the meeting which will be held on 2 November.

Jeff Beck, town and district councillor commented to the newspaper: “My understanding is that it (the application) will be dealing with the access and egress rather than the whole plan and I believe there are still traffic issues to resolve. I would recommend, as far as this council is concerned.”

Initial plans for the racecourse included a hotel, 1500 homes and a new children’s nursery.

Newbury Racecourse currently employs 80 permanent staff and the development will increase jobs and business to a great extend.